The Lincolnshire Bird Club

After the frustrating glimpses and disappearances of the flighty Redstart over the past two days, I was finally able to obtain short, but better views and a few record photographs today. I had to spend the whole morning watching and waiting, but was at last able to ascertain the bird as an Eastern Black Redstart. Briefly, there was no white on the head, the black bib extended well down the chest and the strong orange underparts showed no paler areas on the belly. It was still being chased by two Robins, but may stay around while the cloudy conditions persist. It is in the northernmost sheep pasture at TF 435987. This is best accessed along the sea-bank from Howden's Pullover or along the beach from Stonebridge to the southernmost RAF look-out (Quad 3), then follow the sea-bank north to the final sheep pasture where the bird sometimes frequents the scattered isolated bushes. It disappears for long periods and may require a good deal of patience.

Other sightings today included 9 Shore Larks, 30 Siskins and 230 Pink-footed Geese.

The Black Restart was certainly elusive mid-afternoon onwards. I didn't see it at all, but Linda had a brief view of it in the sea buckthorn.

Roy

Unfortunately, despite the extra pairs of eyes, no trace of the Eastern Black Redstart could be found (29th). Some good birds partly compensated, however, the best being 43 Whooper Swans, 600 Pink-footed Geese, a Rough-legged Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 2 Short-eared Owls, 16 Shore Larks, at least one Northern Bullfinch, 7 Stonechats, 2 Waxwings, 5 Bramblings, upwards of 28 Twite and 2 Snow Buntings.